REGION: Stone considering run for Congress

Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone said Friday he is forming an exploratory committee for a potential 2014 run for U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert’s seat.

“I’m not saying today that I’m running," Stone said in a telephone interview. "But probably within 90 days I’m going to make a decision.”

Stone recently was elected to a third four-year term on the county Board of Supervisors, and is scheduled to be sworn in Tuesday in Riverside.

Calvert, R-Corona, was re-elected to Congress in November. He captured more than 60 percent of the vote in defeating Democratic challenger Michael Williamson.

Calvert used to represent a district that wrapped the Corona area in with inland Orange County communities.

He now represents a redrawn 42nd Congressional District that encompasses most of the Interstate 15 corridor and includes one-fifth of Temecula.

“Riverside County residents will surely be disappointed to see yet another overly ambitious politician looking out for his next job instead of performing the job he was elected to do," Calvert said late Friday. "In fact, Jeff is trying to set a new standard by seeking a higher office before he has even been sworn in for the term he was just elected to serve. On top of that, Jeff doesn’t even live in the 42nd District.

Temecula is split between the 42nd and 50th districts, the latter of which is represented by Republican Rep. Duncan D. Hunter from eastern San Diego County.

"Technically I’m in Duncan Hunter’s district," Stone said, noting the law doesn't require candidates to live within congressional district boundaries. "But I’m a rock throw’s distance from (Calvert's) district.”

Stone said he likes his chances in the Riverside County district, which has a large GOP voter registration advantage in an area where he is well-known.

Stone said he believes it is time for a change and hinted at what issues he may concentrate on, at least initially.

He brought up, for example, the repeated failures by area congressional representatives to secure federal funding for the $71.5 million Murrieta Creek flood-control project.

He said the failure is particularly frustrating given the $32 million in local money raised for the undertaking.

“I’ve been very unhappy with (Calvert) for the past couple years because he has always said he would champion money for Murrieta Creek,” Stone said.

In the works for nearly two decades, the project is intended to prevent a repeat of a January 1993 flood that killed six people and caused $100 million in damage in Southwest County. The damage was concentrated in Old Town Temecula, which was under 4 feet of water.

Improvements were made to the channel south of First Street in Temecula. But following completion of that effort in 2005, federal funding dried up.

Stone said he also is upset about Calvert's recent vote in favor of the "fiscal cliff" deal, something many in his party voted against.

He was referring to the deal the White House struck with congressional leaders to avert a potential relapse into recession. The measure raised income taxes on wealthy Americans. It also raised the payroll tax from 4.2 percent to 6.2 percent.

“Let me tell you, that 2 percent is going to hurt a lot of people,” Stone said, suggesting the notion that the tax increases hit only the rich is a misnomer.

“We don’t know what Calvert was thinking or drinking, but whatever it was, it was a very bad decision," he said. "This is not a time to raise taxes."

Calvert said he was thinking ahead.

"The bottom line is that if our country fell off the fiscal cliff, the average Riverside County household would have an increased tax bill this year of almost $3,500," Calvert said by email. "I guess Jeff thinks middle-class Riverside County families can afford that right now, but I strongly disagree."